The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 510

SANCTIFICATION

470 unto

being fruitful in every good work, and increasing God" (Col. i. lo). To the Thessalonians:

all pleasing,

the knowledge of

in

Your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth" (2 Thess. i. 3). The psalmist sings that " the righteous shall flourish as a palm-tree " and St. Paul says to Timothy, his son in Christ " Give thyself wholly to these things, that thy perfecting may appear to all" (i Tim. iv. 15). From his own experience the apostle testifies " Not as tho I had "

;

:

:

already attained, but

I

follow after

if

that

I

may

apprehend."

And

writing to the Corinthians, he draws a picture of the fruit of sanc-

But we all are changed unto the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." saying

tification,

:

"

But we should not fall in the common error of applying to sancwhat Scripture teaches concerning the " children " and the "perfect." This causes confusion. Speaking of different classes tification

of believers, Scripture recognizes the fact that there are different degrees.

12-14), "

This appears most clearly from St. John's first epistle (ii. where he addresses believers as "young men" and as

fathers," evidently with reference to their age, for he places the

latter as

more mature

In Heb. v.

13,

14,

St.

in spiritual experience above the former. Paul distinguishes the "perfect" who use

strong meat, and the "babes" Corinthians: tual,

"

Brethren,

but as unto carnal,"

I

who depend upon

milk.

To

the

could not speak unto you as unto spiri-

i.e.,

to those

who can

not bear meat, but

That these words relate to sanctification is evident from what follows " For ye are yet carnal, whereas there is among you envying and strife Of himself he testifies: "When I was a child I understood (ver. 3). as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things" He exhorts the Ephesians (iv. 14): "Be no more (I Cor. xiii. 11). children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine"; and among the Philippians he distinguishes the perfect and the not perfect,

who must

still

be fed with milk

(i

Cor.

iii.

iijf.).

:

saying: (iii.

"

Let

us, therefore, as

many

as be perfect, be thus

minded"

15).

Hence the apostle evidently distinguished two classes of bethose whose condition is normal, and those who are still

lievers: in "

a preliminary condition.

perfect,"

meat; the

"

adults,"

"

men and

latter as " babes," "

Scripture designates the former as

fathers" to

whom

young men" who

belongs the strong still

use the milk.

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